Saturday, March 02, 2013

The Two Apples a Day Weekly Link Round-Up

Tomorrow I'm going to make a flying trip to the grocery store to stock up on apples. I've been running through them like crazy ever since the birds decided that they prefer apples to oranges. Go figure. I just wish they'd make up their minds!

You see, I tried them out on apples before, and every single bird turned its beak up at them. In several instances, this was contrary to what all the birding sites and reference books were telling me. Since I knew there was the occasional oriole in the area during the summer-- and orioles prefer citrus-- I made the switch from apples to citrus, and the oranges were a hit with the feathered set. (The orioles seem to crave the hummingbird nectar.)

Then we came home from Bisbee in January with a surplus of apples, and no citrus in the house. I decided to put apples out just to see what would happen. Heavenly days, those birds have gone apple mad!

Well... at least I know the birds are healthy, eh? Apples for the feathered piggies here at Casa Kittling, and links for you insatiably curious folk who show up on a weekend-- and speaking of weekends, have a good'un, ya hear?

Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff

I wonder how much money Amazon spends on those gizmos that suggest books we might like to read? However much it is, the money could be used to better effect elsewhere-- like paying states' sales taxes-- because at least half of Amazon's book sales are planned purchases. We go there with a title in mind, buy it, and get out. Seems like we have other places we'd rather get our book recommendations....

Ack! A stop on my proposed Bookstore Tour of America, Booked for Murder, is for sale. I hope someone buys it!

A billionaire seems hard pressed to think of something worthwhile upon which to spend his billions. He's proposing building a replica of the Titanic and inviting others to play dress-up on a voyage mimicking the fatal voyage in 1912.

Van Cliburn died this week at the age of 78. He was the rare classical musician who enjoyed rock star status-- and my mother was one of his groupies. My love of classical music was fostered by Mom's listening to her Van Cliburn LPs. RIP, Mr. Cliburn. I know of one particular lady who's hoping you'll give a concert soon.

Macmillan announced a new eBook pilot program that means over 1200 titles under their Minotaur imprint will now be available to libraries. That's particularly good news for those of us who love mysteries!

I will study the links tonight, but for now I'm intrigued by the birds' finicky likes and dislikes of fruit. Who would have guessed they prefer apples to oranges? Maybe they'd like pears, peaches, plums, even dates. Or a fruit basket where they can select their preferred fruit of the day. How cute! How nice of you and Denis to cater to their tastes. They have a bird sanctuary there.

We do tend to spoil them a bit, but discovering their new preference for apples was pure serendipity: we didn't have any oranges-- just apples-- and I wasn't going to make a special trip to the grocery store just so the birds could have oranges to eat! LOL

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About Me

Hi! I'm addicted to books (especially crime fiction), laughter and traveling off the beaten path. In my free time, when my eyes aren't glued to the printed page, one of them is usually pressed against the viewfinder of my camera. Let's see... books, laughter, travel, photography. Anything else? Oh yeah-- my dream house wouldn't have a kitchen!